New electrical devices, toys for children, or boxes of wine from Italy – every day, DHL delivers shipments like these to people’s doorsteps. At DHL Global Forwarding, Freight, we primarily transport containers and pallets filled with manufactured and consumer goods. However, we also receive transport requests that are far from ordinary. Here are the five most unusual deliveries of 2025.
A Very Special Year-End Review
DHL is the global market leader in logistics, handling billions of “normal” deliveries worldwide every year. This core business ensures the stability of global supply chains, economic development, and the distribution of essential goods.
From time to time, there are very specific shipping requests that provide an exciting change and a special challenge for our colleagues. These requests give us the welcome opportunity to prove that DHL can find tailor-made solutions for even the most demanding transport needs.
Enjoy our review of the most extraordinary transports we carried out in 2025!
From Bear Art to Species Protection and Sports Trophies – 2025 Was an Exciting Year!
Let’s begin our review with an art project that brings together Berlin, Singapore, and the whole world. Just like global logistics, this project connects the world.
United Buddy Bears – Bear Sculptures on a Grand Tour
The United Buddy Bears art project was launched in Berlin in 2002. A total of 151 colorful, two-meter-tall fiberglass bear sculptures promote peace and tolerance: each bear was painted by an artist from a different country. The designs represent the culture and identity of each country.
These bears were set to travel to Southeast Asia to promote international understanding on the other side of the globe. DHL Global Event Logistics and DHL Freight were happy to transport them from Wustermark, near Berlin, to Singapore. Our specialized network is ideally suited for cross-border event logistics like this. Other notable achievements in this sector include our collaboration with Coldplay to make their tours more sustainable and our long-standing partnership with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra.
In June 2025, the Buddy Bears embarked on their 10,000-kilometer journey. A total of 37 tons of fragile, one-of-a-kind art objects were stowed in eight sea containers, meeting the highest standards of care and security. First, the containers were loaded onto trucks and taken to the Port of Hamburg. From there, the bears began their sea voyage to Singapore, where they were exhibited for two months. This exhibition promoted international understanding, a cause that DHL Freight enthusiastically supported.
Endangered Antelopes Return to Their African Homeland
With the extraordinary art project, United Buddy Bears, we took a leap into the middle of 2025. In February, the focus was on a topic no less important than international understanding: species protection.
The mountain bongo, an African antelope species, now only inhabits a small forest area in Kenya due to decades of poaching and habitat loss. Fewer than 100 bongos remain in the wild. The reintroduction of animals from zoos and wildlife parks is intended to protect the species. DHL transported a herd of 17 mountain bongos from a conservation center in Loxahatchee, Florida, to a wildlife sanctuary on the slopes of Mount Kenya, Africa’s second-highest peak – a journey of over 13,000 kilometers. These animals are descendants of mountain bongos relocated from Kenya in the 1960s.
To ensure the animals’ safety and comfort during their journey, DHL used custom-built crates supplied by a wildlife protection organization. The animals were flown to Kenya on a special flight under the constant supervision of a veterinarian and two bongo specialists. They can now reproduce in the reserve. One day, their offspring will return to the wild and reclaim the forests of Mount Kenya as their natural habitat.
An Inspiring and Moving Piece of Motorsports History
London, Ibiza, and Brasília were just three of the 20 locations that a unique racing helmet traveled to in March 2025. All 20 living Formula 1® world champions had signed it. DHL transported the helmet from Switzerland to the homes of the world champions under strict security measures – certainly a far cry from the usual transport services that DHL provides as the official logistics partner of Formula 1® to ensure the racing series runs smoothly.
The signature of German champion Michael Schumacher holds special significance for people around the world. His wife, Corinna, helped him write the initials “M.S.” on his helmet. Schumacher, a seven-time world champion, withdrew from public life after a serious skiing accident in 2013.
Later, a replica of the helmet was raffled off. The raffle benefits the charity Race Against Dementia. Founded by three-time Formula 1® world champion Sir Jackie Stewart, the organization funds research into preventing and treating dementia. According to his wife, this cause is close to Michael Schumacher’s heart, as well as to DHL’s.
A Young Baboon Flies to a New Home with DHL
Saadoon, a male baboon, was found in poor condition in Bahrain in 2024 when he was only three months old. Baboons are not native to Bahrain. Saadoon was a victim of illegal wildlife trade.
An animal welfare organization cared for him for over a year, but the Middle East is not a suitable environment for baboons, whereas the climate and ecosystem of East African Djibouti are. In November 2025, Saadoon boarded a DHL flight from Bahrain to Djibouti as an unusual passenger.
Under veterinary supervision, DHL flew the young baboon from Muharraq, Bahrain, to Djibouti City Airport in a special transport box. A nearby rescue center experienced in caring for baboons took him in. There, he shares his home with a female baboon, which is important for these intelligent primates’ social lives. He can first get used to his new surroundings, and hopefully later live in freedom.
South America’s Most Coveted Soccer Trophy Travels with DHL to the Final
What the Champions League is to Europe, the CONMEBOL Libertadores, also known as the Copa Libertadores, is to South America: the most prestigious club football competition. Millions of people around the world follow this sporting event. As in Europe, the Copa final takes place in a different city each year. In 2024, it was held on November 29 in Lima, Peru. The South American Football Confederation CONMEBOL handed the winner’s trophy to its official logistics partner DHL at its headquarters in Luque, Paraguay.
DHL made sure the trophy, which is about one meter high, arrived safely and on time at the final venue. DHL employees literally handled it with kid gloves. During transport, the precious item was kept in a secure, custom-made metal box.
South America is a football-crazy region, and the trophy caused a stir even during transport: fans gathered to take photos of the DHL delivery. By the way, Flamengo from Rio de Janeiro won this year’s trophy in an all-Brazilian duel against Palmeiras from São Paulo.
Customized or Standard: DHL Freight Always Offers Excellent Logistics Solutions
Art, sports, charity, animal welfare, and species conservation: While these and other special assignments were exciting and/or moving in 2025, our day-to-day business is equally important to us at DHL Freight. Our logistics professionals are enthusiastic about every transport task. If you have a special request, please feel free to contact us. Together, we will find the right solution.
